Archive for May, 2009

Our tech-savvy, online generation googles, facebooks, myspaces, and tweets like professionals. We download, upgrade, burn, rip, and post better and faster than our parents and teachers. With all the double-clicking and right-clicking, in what way does this digital know-how translate into something meaningful for us as college graduates?

We grasp, white-knuckled to the idealism that so epitomizes our age group and we sit with furrowed-brow at our computer monitors. We have become the internet generation, yes, but really we have become flexible and dynamic verbs; compelled to act because we want to be a part of something substantial for ourselves and for those around us. This era of novel verbiage and tech phrases signifies this action. We are curious about what is around the corner, interested in localities beyond our own, and yes, we inquire into the lives of others. The world is not static. And neither are we.Read the rest of this entry ?

When I graduated from high school, I thought I would always remember walking across the stage and getting my diploma. The only thing I remember is that I didn’t fall in front of the few thousand people who were there. On the other hand, the homecoming game from my senior year and the debate practice when my best friend taped me to a chair will be etched in my memory forever.

Reflecting on the importance of these relatively “small moments” in life, respected women’s rights advocate Susan B. Anthony once said, “Sooner or later we all discover that the important moments in life are not the advertised ones, not the birthdays, the graduations, the weddings, not the great goals achieved. The real milestones are less prepossessing. They come to the door of memory unannounced, stray dogs that amble in, sniff around a bit, and simply never leave. Our lives are measured by these.” Read the rest of this entry ?

Hey there everyone! This post won’t be the most Elliott-related, but hopefully it will be just as helpful than some of the more germane entries. I’m graduating in a week, and, as I was walking around campus today running errands, I thought of a few of the practical tips about GW that I’ve picked up in the last few semesters. None of them are life changing, and they are all little things. Some of you probably learned all of these at Colonial Inauguration; others may know of none of them. So here goes . . . Read the rest of this entry ?

As Americans witness the close of the first 100 days of President Obama’s term in office, I’ve been busy watching a very different system of politics morph before my very eyes. Or at least, I’ve seen a lot of political posters. Posters making dramatic proclamations in multiple languages, posters with posed national leaders in crisp business suits and even crisper smiles, posters with some very controversial color choices. Basically, there were a lot of posters in Cape Town this April.

Being in South Africa for the re-election of the African National Congress (ANC) Party was not as exciting as it seems. Read the rest of this entry ?

Congratulations, Elliott School Class of 2009! We will soon be graduates of The George Washington University. For the last few years, this college has been our home. Within its dozen city blocks, GW has nurtured us and prepared us for our future. We entered this university with empty minds, primed for filling. Hopefully through our experiences here, we leave with more knowledgeable, open minds. No longer just absorbent sponges, we now have the ability to entertain a thought without accepting it, the true mark of an educated mind according to Aristotle. Read the rest of this entry ?

I remember Karen, a New Orleans homeowner I met my freshman year. Our team of volunteers had completely gutted her home. Her stolid countenance stubbornly fought back tears as her elderly frame climbed the van-sized mound of gutted debris. She stood atop ruined baby photo albums, wedding and prom dresses, appliances, everything that fills a home… and she posed for a picture.

My camera immortalized a proud and tenacious smile that refused to show signs of discouragement. She was defiant in the face of tragedy, determined to rebuild her home, and dedicated to her community. Gone were all of her material possessions, but what was left is the only thing I’ve discovered to truly matter: human relationships—with her family, friends, neighbors, a group of student volunteers, and now you, the reader—that in part define who she is and how she affects the world around her. These things are waterproof.

Well summer time is right around the corner, and while many people already have solid plans for their summer, a lot of us don’t. Not having any classes makes it easy to get lazy, and before you know it… September has arrived, and your entire summer is gone. A key lesson that I wish I had had instilled in me early on was the value in maximizing every aspect of the summer, not just to relax, but to also advance my educational and career goals.

With that in mind, there are a few things that both upper and lower classman should keep in mind before heading into the summer. While there are no hard and fast rules about what makes for a “good summer,” there are definitely a few different avenues that can help you fully capitalize on all of the opportunities the summer months can provide.

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The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs is one of the world’s leading schools of international affairs. Located in the heart of Washington, D.C., its mission is to educate the next generation of international leaders, conduct research that advances understanding of important global issues, and engage the policy community in the United States and around the world.